Hoodoo, history, haints

Here's the Halloween edition of the Front Porch podcast. Our special guest is folklorist Gerald Milnes and the subject is appropriately spooky. If you listen, you will hear about my theory as to why WV is so witchy.

Feeling witchy?

Image by way of wikipedia.

If you are, maybe it's because tonight is Walpurgisnacht, which in some northern European countries was a festival accompanied by bonfires, dancing and pagan overtones. The name comes from the fact that May 1 is the feast of St. Walpurga, an English missionary to the Franks in the 700s.

Walpurga herself wasn't witchy, of course, but the time of year was, as in exactly six months from Halloween or All Saint's Day. In German folklore--and in Goethe's Faust Part I--it is the night of the witches' sabbath, where they knew a thing or two about partying.

While we're on a literary jag, Walpurgisnacht is also mentioned in Bram Stoker's eerie story Dracula's Guest, which didn't make it to the novel. Some weird things happened then too.

Alas, the weather is pretty wet at Goat Rope Farm today, so I wouldn't hold out much hope for a bonfire.

And don't forget: if tonight is Walpurgisnacht, that means tomorrow is the Celtic holiday Beltane!

POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY? Click here.

INFOGRAPHIC? Click here.

GOAT ROPE ADVISORY LEVEL: FLYING ON A BROOM